2008 World Series of Poker - SPOILERS

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 2, 2008 10:29 pm

The Main Event starts tomorrow and runs for nearly two weeks.

ESPN will start showing some other events July 22 and then later in the summer will show the Main Event, once they have edited it down.

HOWEVER, this year they are doing something new. Unlike in previous years where people following online knew the winner in mid-July but ESPN didn't show the winner until October, this year they are playing down to a final table in July and then bringing all those players back in November to finish the tournament once their pre-recorded stuff catches up.

This brings a whole new dynamic to the final table since the finalists will get to watch their opponents during earlier play through the summer and fall and then adjust their play in November when they face them live.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/ne ... id=3151500

Does anyone care but me?

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 2, 2008 10:30 pm

Hey! I had an poll option for "boobies" but it didn't show up.

Story of my life.

Tarheel Tail-Gator · Post by **Tarheel Tail-Gator** » July 2, 2008 10:40 pm

I used to watch some of this.

However, the networks have become so saturated with poker and celebrity poker shows, that I don't even bother anymore.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2008 10:41 pm

Although that's cool, for ratings, I think it's just another step in watering down the competition. I liked it better last year when you had the option of buying the pay-per-view and watching the final as it happened. This takes away from the "thinking on your feet" sort of approach, but I think it will ultimately favor the pros who will have a better ability to pick up on opponent's weaknesses and exploit them. With a set-up like this, my money's on Daniel Negranu (sp?) to win the big one.

And congrats to Scotty Ngyuen on winning the H.O.R.S.E. tournament.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 2, 2008 10:44 pm

Tarheel Tail-Gator wrote:I used to watch some of this.

However, the networks have become so saturated with poker and celebrity poker shows, that I don't even bother anymore.

If you want some good poker. Be sure to catch the weeks they are showing the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. It's $50,000 to enter and then they rotate the games:

Hold 'Em
Omaha
Razz
Stud
Eights or better stud

Big name players, playing big time poker. I know who won this and it looks to be good on TV (likely in August or September

)

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 2, 2008 10:47 pm

popcornjack wrote:Although that's cool, for ratings, I think it's just another step in watering down the competition. I liked it better last year when you had the option of buying the pay-per-view and watching the final as it happened. This takes away from the "thinking on your feet" sort of approach, but I think it will ultimately favor the pros who will have a better ability to pick up on opponent's weaknesses and exploit them. With a set-up like this, my money's on Daniel Negranu (sp?) to win the big one.

And congrats to Scotty Ngyuen on winning the H.O.R.S.E. tournament.

D'oh! I was typing about the HORSE tourney while you were posting. Yeah, I was glad to see him win. He's one of the few players that drinks while he plays. Erick Lindgren is also good for a few beers and I think John D'Agostino drinks too.

I knew I liked you Jack!

And Negreanu is one of my favorite players. Likes action, keeps it fun while he takes your chips. No tantrums or whining. I'd love to see him win.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2008 10:55 pm

I'm also a Phil Ivey fan, just cause he's a local guy (and yeah, so was Greg Raymer, but I got not much love for him) but Daniel always looks like he's just having a grand ole time, win or lose.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 2, 2008 11:03 pm

popcornjack wrote:I'm also a Phil Ivey fan, just cause he's a local guy (and yeah, so was Greg Raymer, but I got not much love for him) but Daniel always looks like he's just having a grand ole time, win or lose.

Ivey is just smooth. Barely says a word, but the eyes are always moving. Started in AC with a fake ID.

Raymer was a little dorky but what he did back to back years was pretty impressive. But, yeah, not a fan of the Fossilman.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2008 11:08 pm

blackjack wrote:
popcornjack wrote:I'm also a Phil Ivey fan, just cause he's a local guy (and yeah, so was Greg Raymer, but I got not much love for him) but Daniel always looks like he's just having a grand ole time, win or lose.
Ivey is just smooth. Barely says a word, but the eyes are always moving. Started in AC with a fake ID.

Raymer was a little dorky but what he did back to back years was pretty impressive. But, yeah, not a fan of the Fossilman.

I remember watching him in the tournament of champions game they do during the WSOP and he just reminded me of a frat boy who crashed a formal party. I'm not going to say he was lucky to do what he did; he's definately a good player, but he just came across as who he was:a corporate lawyer playing against pros who had been living the life for years.

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » July 3, 2008 8:14 am

I used to watch it, but the ESPN coverage is so bad that I avoid it now. Since they edit out so much you really don't get a feel for that game. The only poker show that is even watchable anymore is High Stakes on GSN. There is no tournament poker worth watching. I do read the play by play on the poker sites. The poker craze will continue to fade until our glorious federal government makes it legal to transfer funds to offshore gambling sites. I still play a lot myself, but it isn't as easy as it once was.

I did consider playing in a couple of lower buy in events this year, but schedules did not work out for me and my crew. I'm an Omaha junkie, love razz and am profitable at stud8. I wish I had the 50K just to sit in on that game, I might not cash, but it would be a thrill to sit in for a day or 2.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 3, 2008 8:17 am

Skibo wrote:I used to watch it, but the ESPN coverage is so bad that I avoid it now. Since they edit out so much you really don't get a feel for that game. The only poker show that is even watchable anymore is High Stakes on GSN. There is no tournament poker worth watching. I do read the play by play on the poker sites. The poker craze will continue to fade until our glorious federal government makes it legal to transfer funds to offshore gambling sites. I still play a lot myself, but it isn't as easy as it once was.

I did consider playing in a couple of lower buy in events this year, but schedules did not work out for me and my crew. I'm an Omaha junkie, love razz and am profitable at stud8. I wish I had the 50K just to sit in on that game, I might not cash, but it would be a thrill to sit in for a day or 2.

Poker After Dark isn't too bad either. They show lots of hands not just the "action" hands so you do understand that it's OK to fold every once in while unlike ESPN where you only see people getting knocked out half the time.

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » July 3, 2008 8:41 am

blackjack wrote: Poker After Dark isn't too bad either. They show lots of hands not just the "action" hands so you do understand that it's OK to fold every once in while unlike ESPN where you only see people getting knocked out half the time.

Yeah, I've seen that a couple of times. It seems to be more hit and miss for me. When I stumble over it, I'll watch. Some of the shows have gotten so bad when they show odds even. I forget which one it is, but at least one discounts the odds for cards dealt to other players that have not been shown.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » July 3, 2008 11:59 am

I hate the way ESPN shows it after it's been completed.

The new format, I think, is just some sad attempt at ratings... They should just edit the stuff all night, then show it the next day. Like they do here in the states with Wimbledon or the French Open.

AdamBomb8 · Post by **AdamBomb8** » July 3, 2008 4:10 pm

I used to watch, and occasionally play online, but I got tired of it. Don't have the patience for poker.

MileHighPirate · Post by **MileHighPirate** » July 3, 2008 4:54 pm

Just turned 33 and have never played Poker (5-Card Draw or Hold 'Em) until two weeks ago.

Imagine that. It's addicting!

Truly dig it and have been getting my feet wet playing with some friends and also going online to pokerstars.com to play on the FREE Tables.

Fun that My Buddies in Cali and Austin, Texas can join me in the mountains via the internet by simply CLICKING and logging in.

Two weeks ago, after going out on a Saturday night, I was surfing the channels and stopped on ESPN. They had some Poker Tournament on late at night. I instantly turned the tv off and said, "That's it. I'm learning tonight!" I did, and it's been fun ever since.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 3, 2008 5:19 pm

Tonight's my weekly game with my landlord and some friends. $40 buy in, cash game, switching between Texas and Omaha. Won't tell you how much I've lost over the last year and a half, but the last two months have been profitable.

alaura1974 · Post by **alaura1974** » July 3, 2008 5:26 pm

blackjack wrote:The Main Event starts tomorrow and runs for nearly two weeks.

ESPN will start showing some other events July 22 and then later in the summer will show the Main Event, once they have edited it down.

HOWEVER, this year they are doing something new. Unlike in previous years where people following online knew the winner in mid-July but ESPN didn't show the winner until October, this year they are playing down to a final table in July and then bringing all those players back in November to finish the tournament once their pre-recorded stuff catches up.

This brings a whole new dynamic to the final table since the finalists will get to watch their opponents during earlier play through the summer and fall and then adjust their play in November when they face them live.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/ne ... id=3151500

Does anyone care but me?

My cousin left for Vegas today since he is in the World Series...... I don tknow when it is going to air though. He is there for 2 weeks this time around I think!

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » July 3, 2008 5:30 pm

MileHighPirate wrote:Just turned 33 and have never played Poker (5-Card Draw or Hold 'Em) until two weeks ago.

Imagine that. It's addicting!

Just wait, once you can't get enough of a thrill from HE, you will experiment with Omaha, get lucky, score big and become obsessed, then you will have 4 tables running at once up hundreds at one table down at 2 and break even at the other. You'll get all blearey eyed, notice an icon for blackjack, click on it dump another $100 or so. Your wife will be screaming at 2am "get to bed now!" You'll realize you are only up $25 after 6 hours but oh the poker points you will have accumulated.

Once you cash out a little you'll end up in Vegas, win a tournament and proceed to lose all of it at the craps table...Not that any of this has ever happened to me.

Yeah, I'm playing an Omaha tourney as I type this.

Glorfindel7 · Post by **Glorfindel7** » July 3, 2008 8:00 pm

I'll probably play a tournament or two in Vegas, but I'm NOWHERE near good enough to even play a satellite for the WSOP (plus I don't have the time to play...)

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » July 4, 2008 9:03 am

Several notables are gone already from just day 1A of the tourney. They still don't have a number of total entrants but they expect it to exceed last year's 6,500+ players.

Some eliminated already:
Josh Arieh, Dan Harrington, Joe Sebok, Freddy Deeb, David Benyamine, Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Eli Elezra, Lyle Berman, Erica Schoenberg, "Miami" John Cernuto, Gavin Smith.

Negreanu is playing in Day 1B, today.

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